The majority of the funds required to run this website come from advertisements.
Please consider disabling your ad-block.

If you haven't seen already, TSO is now powered by Discord! This means that we will eventually be disbanding the embedded chat on the main forum page. Head to this page to learn more on how to integrate your TSO account with discord! https://traditionsportsonline.com/wiki/discord-integration/

Analysis: Nothing much to say here, best rotation in baseball and arguably (depending on results) the best ever.I feel bad for the rest of the NL East! The bullpen is solid as former starter Jose Contreras has been a nice fit out of the pen. Ryan Madsen is one of the best setup men in baseball. Brad Lidge is the only question mark, but I think he is poised to have a come-back year. ​

Analysis: This was a close call between the remaining teams (Mets, Marlins, Nationals) but I think the top of this rotation sets it apart. Hudson, Lowe, Jurrjens and Hanson are all solid pitchers.The bullpen is straght up nasty and the young closer Kimbrel showed he can be a force late last season. ​

Analysis: This is a classic case of a rotation that could be very good or very bad. Santana has been hot and cold in New York, and his injury problems are hard to ignore. We will see.The bullpen looks solid with the addition of DJ Carrasco. It will be interesting to watch how KRod responds to his recent legal issues. ​

Analysis: As a whole this rotation is solid. However, it is top heavy. VERY, VERY top heavy. Josh Johnson is a legit ace and a star, but after him the rest of the rotation is filled with #4 and 5 starters.That bullpen looks very good. Webb, Hensley and Dunn all looked great at times last year and Nunez is a solid closer. ​

Analysis:This rotation worries me. Strasberg is back, but his injury issues even considering how gentle the Nationals were with him last season scare me and every Nats fan to death. Add that to a very thin rotation where the aged Livan Hernandez is the #2 starter and you have the makings of a rough year pitching wise for the Nationals. On the bright side, the bullpen looks to be the strong suit. Clippard, Burnett and Slaten are all coming off good seasons and Drew Storen seems to be the future closer. Still, this seems to be the weakest pitching staff as a whole in the NL East. ​

Great job man, love the list. Hard to argue with a few of these (*cough my Phillies cough*) but I think I'd rather have the Marlins' pitching staff than the Mets'. Keep it up, looking forward to the rest of the divisions.

Analysis: Rotation, if it stays healthy, will be very solid. Buchholz might be the most underrated pitcher in the majors and Dice K being a 5th starter just shows the potential depth in the rotation. Bullpen looks a little weak besides Bard. Jonathon Papelbon has his struggles but for the most part is a great big-game closer. ​

Analysis: Rotation is solid 1-2-3, but Serio Mitre? Really? They need Mitre and the young gun Ivan Nova to give them some solid innings in the tough AL East. Bullpen, as always, is solidifed by having an all-time great closer in Mariano Rivera. ​

Analysis: Young rotation that looks to continue progressing led by hot shot David Price. The bullpen is pretty questionable with no clear closer (Farnsworth is in the lead right now). Against offensive juggernauts like the Red Sox and Yankees, the Rays pen will have to be sorted out quickly. ​

Analysis: Very strong rotation. Kershaw has a bright future and adding Jon Garland will help. Padilla is projected to slide into the bullpen where I think he will be servicable. Broxton is a big man with a big arm. Overall solid staff.​

Analysis: Might be controversial, but I think with the loss of Cliff Lee the Oakland A's have taken over the #1 spot as far as pitching in the AL West. That bullpen looks stacked, Andrew Bailey is filthy and the rotation is only going to get better. If Rich Harden stays healthy he can give them a boost. ​

Analysis: Starters are good but who knows what they will get from Brandon Webb and how Neftali Feliz will do in the starting rotation. Bullpen has a few old guys, and you never know when they might break down. Overall they have the potential to be good but there are more question marks than the A's.​

Analysis: Despite a few bullpen questions,, this staff is the best in the NL Central. Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright are perennial Cy Young contenders and Jaime Garcia had a spectacular rookie season last year. Jake Westbrook and Kyle Lohse are extremely solid back of the rotation guys. If Ryan Franklin struggles look for Kyle McClellan to take over the closer role some time this season. ​

Analysis: With the addition of former Cy Young winner Zach Grienke along with Shaun Marcum, this rotation is much improved. Don't dwell too much on Grienke and Marcum's era last year as they should drop now that they are in the national league. Yovani Gallardo took a step back last year, so the Brewers need him to improve this year. Bullpen looks ok and John Axford looked great at times as a closer last year, so this pitching staff should be much better than they were last year. ​

Analysis: Cubs upgraded the rotation with the addition of former ALCS MVP Matt Garza this offseason, and his transition from the AL East to the NL Central should be favorable. The 1-2-3 of Zambran/Garza/Dempster is very solid and the bullpen should be much better with Kerry Wood's return to Wrigleyville, but the main concern for the Cubs is how young Andrew Cashner does in the rotation. Carlos Marmol is the best strikeout pitcher in baseball. ​

Analysis: Francisco Cordero seems to be on the back end of his career. Cueto and Arroyo had solid years last year, but Edison Volquez hasn't been dominant since 2008.. Travis Wood looks promising and Mike Leake is young, but overall this rotation just doesn't do it for me. The bullpen is solid and phenom Aroldis Chapman is going to be amazing to watch. Wouldn't be surprised if he was the closer for the Reds by the end of the year. ​